Congress
Retirement cuts tweaked in House reconciliation package
The latest draft of the GOP’s plan to cut federal spending to pay for tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement no longer un-grandfathers federal workers hired before 2014 from increased retirement contribution rules passed in the 2010s and delays implementation of the FERS supplement.
House GOP’s law enforcement ‘exemption’ from retirement cuts is illusory, groups say
A pair of organizations representing federal law enforcement officers urged lawmakers to strengthen carveouts of an array of proposed cuts to federal workers’ retirement benefits but stopped short of calling for their withdrawal.
End of pandemic inspector general's office could hurt ongoing efforts to enforce accountability
A former senior official for the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery said there were about 40 unfinished cases when the office’s authority lapsed, some of which were referred to other agencies and others closed.
Axed federal employees sit on Capitol steps urging lawmakers to protect public services they used to provide
A group of former government workers goes to Capitol Hill weekly to lobby members of Congress to fight Trump’s federal workforce and program cuts.
Senate confirms Bisignano to lead Social Security
In a party line vote, Senate Republicans elected to disregard a whistleblower’s allegation that Frank Bisignano had improper contact with the agency to facilitate DOGE operatives’ onboarding.
Push to revoke certain Biden-era rules intensifies as congressional Republicans race against deadline
EPA waivers are being targeted for removal, even though the Government Accountability Office as well as an official who advises on Senate rules said they are exempt from the Congressional Review Act.
‘Gimmicks’: GOP lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘trillion-dollar’ defense-spending proposal
White House claims of a 13% increase rest on unusual maneuvers, not a higher DOD budget line.
Proposed retirement cuts cast renewed pall over deferred resignations
Federal workers who accepted President Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called ‘fork in the road’ fear Republicans have “pulled the rug out from under” their retirement plans.
VA tech panel’s top Democrat worries layoffs will harm EHR rollout
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., is concerned that staffing vacancies, coupled with the department’s reduction in force plans, will put “more pressure onto the VA to execute on an expedited calendar for implementation” of its new EHR system.
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Federal employees removed by Trump would have easier pathway back to government service under Democratic bill
A pair of bills would seek to give hiring preference to axed feds and to standardize the length of probationary periods for government workers, as the administration has sought to fire those individuals who have less civil service job protections.
House Republicans advance plan to cut federal worker benefits and undermine civil service protections
One Republican who voted against the measure said efforts to reduce existing federal workers’ pension benefits will fail if put to a vote before the full House.
Connolly, top Democrat on oversight panel, will ‘soon’ leave post due to worsening cancer diagnosis
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., has led criticism of the Trump administration’s attempts to overhaul federal agencies.
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Top intelligence lawmaker fears China may exploit DOGE’s changes to government
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., also called out the Trump administration on the recent firing of NSA Director Timothy Haugh, a move he viewed as “puzzling.”
Putting SPACECOM HQ in Alabama would have saved Pentagon $426 million, DOD IG says
But then-SPACECOM commander Gen. Dickinson was worried the move would result in significant personnel losses.
Bipartisan bill calls for NOAA to use AI to forecast wildfires and extreme weather
The bill’s introduction comes amid Trump administration efforts to scale back the agency’s workforce and operations.
Top homeland security lawmaker calls for cautious cuts to CISA
“We have to be very careful about who and what we cut, because [the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] does have a mission to overwatch our critical infrastructure and make sure the bad guys aren’t getting in,” said Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.
Public Health Service officers would receive military leave benefits under bipartisan bill
The Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service is one of the uniformed services, which are associated with the armed forces, but don’t receive the same paid leave benefits.
House Republicans object to GOP budget for not cutting enough spending
The blueprint directs the Senate to cut a minimum of $4 billion, while the House instructions task several committees with cutting at least $1.5 trillion in spending.
Democrats confront Social Security Administration about disruptions to constituent SSI accounts
This is the first oversight effort of Senate Democrats’ new Social Security War Room.
Critics worry DOGE’s rush to sell excess federal buildings could hurt agency missions, squander revenue opportunities
While shrinking the federal portfolio has been a bipartisan focus, Democrats at the hearing argued the Department of Government Efficiency’s strategy has been careless.
OPM, OMB nominees praise ‘at-will’ employment at confirmation hearing
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee considered the nominations of Scott Kupor to serve as OPM director and Eric Ueland to serve as OMB’s deputy director for management.
